Valve and alarm



Patented May I6, I899.

No. e25,|s|.

F. GRAY.

VALVE AND ALARM.

(Application flled J'uno 24, 1897.) (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Shut I.

No. 625,l6 Patented May I6, lass.

. F. GRAY. Y

VALVE AND ALARIIL (Application filed June 24, 1897.)

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

r. GRA

. VALVE nn-ALARM.

. (Applicutionflled June 24, 1897.)

a sums-sum s.

1 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK GRAY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

VALVE AND ALARM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 625,161, dated 16, 1899.

Application filed June 24, 1897.

To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, FRANK GRAY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and usefullmproved Valve and Alarm, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to certain improvements in a valve included in a pressure-containing system of conducting-pipes, which valve is particularly applicable for employmentin automatic fire-extinguishing systems, and also relates to means for sounding an emergency alarm in pressure-utilizing systems.

My invention has for its object the provision of a valve the parts of which are so arranged as to be capable of performing the several functions of a check-valve, a shut-0E or cut-off valve, and adrain or release controlling valve combined and embodied in a single self-contained piece of apparatus.

Another object of my invention resides in the provision of means whereby one or more alarms may be operatedin an emergencyby a variation of pressure brought about by a movement of the valve, which valve is usually located at a point between the distributing part of the fire-extinguishing system, for instance, and the source of supply, this arrangement affording means whereby an alarm or alarms are sounded whenever the system-controlling valve is tampered with.

My invention has certain other objects in view; andit consists in certain features about to be described, reference being now had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through the casing of my improved valve, showing in side elevation the valve shaft or spindle. Fig. 2 is a cross-section through the valvecasing and the valve shaft or spindle, showing the check-valve unlocked and the drainvalve closed. Fig. 3 is a like view showing the check-valve locked and transformed into a shut-off or cut-off valve and the drain or release valve open. Fig. 4 is a side exterior elevation of the valve. Fig. 5 is a view showing the improved valve as applied to a wetpipe automatic fire-extinguishing system.

In carrying out my invention I provide a valve-casing within which are a check-valve $erial No. 642,038. (No model.)

and what may be termed a release or drain valve. This check-valve is capable of acting automatically to open under pressure in one direction and to remain closed under pressure in the opposite direction. The construction is such that when the checkvalve is capable bf performing its automatic functions the drain or release valve is closed, thus cutting off the exit of the pressure through the drain or release valve. By operating a spindle or shaft from the exterior of the valve-casing the check-valve is locked to its seat, and thus rendered incapable of movement under the influence of the pressure. The check-valve is thus transformed into a positive cut-off or shut-oif valve. same time that the check-valve is so transformed into a cut-off or shut-off valve the drain-valve is opened to permit the release of the pressure in the system above the shut-off or cut-off valve. 1

In conjunction with the combined checkvalve, cut-off valve, and drain-valve, which in a fire-extinguishing system is usually located at a point between the distributing part of the system and the source of supply, I provide an alarm or a number of alarms which are capable of operation upon a variation of pressure in the conducting-pipes of the system. Should the controlling-valve be tampered with in any manner, the drain-valve is immediately opened, causing a variation of pressure to actuate the alarm. The drain or release valve is opened and the check-valve locked and transformed into acut-off. or shutoff valve from one point of manual operation, and the construction is such that the act of locking the one valve of necessity opens the other, and therefore the drain or release valve must invariably be opened when the checkvalve is locked and made a cut-off or shut-off valve; In combination with the alarm operated by the opening of the drain or release valve a signal or alarm is invariably sounded whenever the check-valve is locked to positively cut off the water, because the drain or release valve is then opened.

The casing of the valve is designated at A, the check-valve at B, and the drain-valve at D. A drain-pipe D Fig. 5, and'the conducting-pipe 13 from the source of supply lead to a point beneath the check-valve B.

At the E is a spindle or shaft extended at one end to the exterior of the casing A and having secured thereon a handle or operating-lever E Mounted on the interior end of the valve shaft or spindle E is the drain-valve D, which by means of a feather D is permitted a lateral movement on the shaft D, but is fixed to rotate with said shaft. Secured centrally to the shaft or spindle E is a cam-arm H, which is adapted to engage and lock the check-valve B, and thus transform it into a shut-off or cut-off valve. 7

The lever E when manually turned rotates the shaft or spindle E and causes the cam H to descend from the positions shown in Figs. 1 and 2 into the position shown in Fig. 3, in which latter position it engages the valve B and holds it closed against the pressure. The Valve D closes the drain-pipe D when the check-valve is unlocked; but when the shaft or spindle E is rotated to lock the checkvalve at the same time the valve D opens the drain-pipe, and thus varies the pressure above the valve B.

Thus it is evident that a combined and selfcontained apparatus is provided which performs the several functions required in a pressure system-viz., a check-valve, a shut-off valve, and a drain valve. These various valves are operated from one point and by one and the same movement -that is, the check-valve is locked and transformed into a shut-off valve by the same act or movement which opens the drain or release valve.

In Fig. 5 I have illustrated a wet pipe system of ordinary construction and have shown an alarm mechanism such as is described and illustrated in an application filed by me June 11, 1897, and serially numbered 640,359. The alarm mechanism is designated as a whole at J and consists generally of an indicatorpointer which closes a circuit and operates the alarm upon a variation of pressure in the system. It is evident, therefore, that whenever the handle E is turned from the position marked Open (shown in Fig. 4) to the position marked Shut or toward that position the drain or release valve D is open, and thus the pressure in the system of pipes is reduced, causing an operation of the alarm or alarms.

fail to operate.

The pipe K is led to an alarm apparatus such as described and located at any convenient point. Should any person therefore in a sprinkler-protected building out off the water by operating the handle E to lock the checkvalve B into a cut-0E valve, the drain orrelease valve is opened simultaneously and necessarily, and thus the alarm is sounded.

It is impossible, therefore, to either carelessly or wilfully cut off the water without sounding an alarm.

'In a dry-pipe system, as the pressure would simply be withdrawn from below a supplemental check-valve upon the opening of the drain-valve D, the alarm apparatus J would Under such conditions the alarm connected with the pipe K would be operated as said pipe opens into the interior of the casing A of the valve and the opening of the valve D would cause a withdrawal of pressure from the pipe K.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a pressure-utilizing system, the com= bination with a combined check-valve and shut-off valve and a drain or release valve, manuallyoperated means for locking the check-valve into a cut-off or shut-off valve and connections which invariably open the drain or release valve simultaneously with the locking aforesaid from the same point of manual operation, of an alarm or alarms operated by the reduction of pressure caused by the opening of the drain or release valve, whereby an alarm is invariably sounded whenever the'pressure in the system is cut off.

2. In a self-contained piece of valve apparatus a drain-valve, a spindle or shaft, upon which the drain-valve is mounted and by which it is operated, a check-valve and means carried by the shaft or spindle which'lock or fasten the check-valve whereby it becomes a shut-off or cut-0E valve.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK GRAY.

Witnesses:

CHAS. O. BULKLEY, L. M. BUL KLEY. 

